Difference between revisions of "Crop circle" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 13: Line 13:
 
|Additional_Names=
 
|Additional_Names=
 
|Definition= A Geometric or abstract pattern formed by the flattening of crops
 
|Definition= A Geometric or abstract pattern formed by the flattening of crops
|Characteristics= 1) Crops broken at the base and matted in a distinct pattern<br/>2) Crops bent at node points and matted in a distinct pattern.<ref name=kean1>Kean, Leslie (2002-09-16) "Origin of Crop Circles Baffles Scientists," Leslie Kean, The Providence Journal (Rhode Island)</ref><ref name=levebgood1>Levengood, W C (1994) "Anatomical anomalies in crop formation plants," Physiologia Plantarum, Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society 92:356-363</ref><ref name=anderhub1>Anderhub Werner, Roth HansPeter (2002) "Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries," Lark Books, ISBN 1579902979</ref><ref name=howarth1>Howarth, Leslie G (2000) "If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles," iUniverse, ISBN 0595156932</ref><ref name=kelly1>Kelly, Lynne (2004) "The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal," Allen & Unwin, ISBN 1741140595</ref>
+
|Characteristics= 1) Crops broken at the base and matted in a distinct pattern<br/>2) Crops bent at node points and matted in a distinct pattern.<ref name=kean1>Leslie Kean, "Origin of Crop Circles Baffles Scientists," ''The Providence Journal'', Rhode Island, (2002-09-16) </ref><ref name=levebgood1>W. C. Levengood, "Anatomical anomalies in crop formation plants," ''Physiologia Plantarum'', Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society 92 (1994):356-363</ref><ref name=anderhub1>Anderhub Werner and Hans Peter Roth, ''Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries'' (Lark Books, 2002, ISBN 1579902979).</ref><ref name=howarth1>Leslie G. Howarth, ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles'' (iUniverse, 2000, ISBN 0595156932).</ref><ref name=kelly1>Lynne Kelly, ''The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal'' (Allen & Unwin, 2004, ISBN 1741140595).</ref>
 
|Extra_Title= Related Term
 
|Extra_Title= Related Term
|Extra_Column= [[wikt:cerealogy|Cerealogy: The Study of Crop circles]]
+
|Extra_Column= [[Cerealogy]]: The Study of Crop circles
 
|See_Also= [[Unusual ground marking]]
 
|See_Also= [[Unusual ground marking]]
 
}}
 
}}
Line 30: Line 30:
 
<blockquote>The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.<ref name=JofMeteorology>John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," ''Journal of Meteorology'' 25 (2000): 20-21. {{ISSN|0307-5966}} (original ''Nature'' 22 (July 1880): 290-291).</ref></blockquote>  
 
<blockquote>The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.<ref name=JofMeteorology>John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," ''Journal of Meteorology'' 25 (2000): 20-21. {{ISSN|0307-5966}} (original ''Nature'' 22 (July 1880): 290-291).</ref></blockquote>  
  
Whether these are similar phenomena to what is known today as crop circles or other phenomena or [[folklore|folkloric]] beliefs of the times the stories are told in, is hard to say since different people believe different things about the nature and origination of crop circles. As more and more people research crop circles, the more incidents from the past are found that can be argued either help prove or disprove competing theories as to the nature of crop circles. In either case, the mid to late twentieth century was the time when crop circles became truly prominent in the larger public eye.
+
In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of [[UFO]] traces happened in the small town of [[Tully, Queensland]], [[Australia]]. A [[sugar cane]] farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or {{convert|40|ft|m}} up from a [[swamp]] and then fly away, and when he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.<ref name=casebook>[http://www.ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.html"The Tully Saucer Nest"] UFO Casebook, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albeit short lived. It is also possibly the reason that many of the subsequent crop circles were linked to the UFO activity.<ref name=casebook/>
  
In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of UFO traces happened in the small town of [[Tully, Queensland]], [[Australia]]. A sugar cane farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or {{convert|40|ft|m}} up from a swamp and then fly away, and when he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.<ref>(2008) UFO Casebook [http://www.ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.html"The Tully Saucer Nest"] Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albiet short lived. It is also possibly the reason that many of the subsequent crop circles were linked to the UFO activity.<ref>(2008) UFO Casebook [http://www.ufocasebook.com/tullysaucernest.html"The Tully Saucer Nest"] Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref>
+
Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain, a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents. Designs discovered at [[Barbary Castle]] were some of the largest and most geometrically complex figures seen to date.<ref> David Ritchie, ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena'' (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)</ref> The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to gain the attention by the [[mass media|media]]. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Japan]], as well as the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canada]].  
  
Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain, a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents, particularly of the designs discovered at [[Barbary Castle]], which were some of the largest and most geometrically complex figures seen to date.<ref> Ritchie, David. ''UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena'' (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)</ref> The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to get the attention by the [[mass media|media]]. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former [[Soviet Union]], the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[Japan]], as well as the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canada]].
+
Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles worldwide although there are many committed investigators and researchers devoted to the study of the phenomena. Like many aspects of the [[occult]] and [[paranormal]], crop circles soon quickly became incorporated and in a fashion exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made from circle incidents. Although some farmers expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or [[helicopter]] tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists, and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by praying to and communing with spirits.<ref name=mayell> Hillary Mayell, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles_2.html "Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?"] ''National Geographic'', August 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> In 1996, a circle appeared near [[Stonehenge]], and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.<ref name=mayell/>
 
 
Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes have dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles worldwide although there are many committed investigators and researchers devoted to the study of the phenomena. Like many aspects of the occult and paranormal, crop circles soon quickly became incorporated and in a fashion exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made off circle incidents. Although some farmers have expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or helicopter tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by praying to and communing with spirits.<ref>Mayell, Hillary. ''Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?''. "National Geographic", August 2, 2002. [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles_2.html] Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref> In 1996, a circle appeared near Stonehenge, and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.<ref>Mayell, Hillary. ''Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?''. "National Geographic", August 2, 2002. [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0801_020801_cropcircles_2.html] Retrieved January 5, 2009</ref>
 
  
 
==Designs==
 
==Designs==
 
[[Image:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg|thumb|Wheat pattern about {{convert|150|ft|m}} in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007]]
 
[[Image:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg|thumb|Wheat pattern about {{convert|150|ft|m}} in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007]]
  
Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. After some years, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of [[sacred geometry]]. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including [[fractal]]s. Many crop circles now have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.
+
Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. After some years, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of [[sacred geometry]]. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including [[fractal]]s. Many crop circles now have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry, and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.
  
 
==Explanations==
 
==Explanations==
 
 
===Hoaxes/Man Made===
 
===Hoaxes/Man Made===
 
[[Image:Crop_circles_Swirl.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.]]
 
[[Image:Crop_circles_Swirl.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.]]
 +
Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomenon, there have been many who have claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from [[Southampton]], [[England]] announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a [[Public house|pub]] near [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats, and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.<ref name=ufos>[http://ufologie.net/htm/cropbower01.htm "Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started"] UFOs Up-Close, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> The two men were able to make a {{convert|40|ft|m|0|sing=on}} circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant [[publicity]], so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural [[amphitheatre]] just outside [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] - an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more [[Complexity|complex]] patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap - the loop positioned over one eye - could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.<ref name=ufos/> Bower's wife had become suspicious of him, noticing high levels of mileage in their car. Eventually, fearing that his wife suspected him of [[adultery]], Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a [[Great Britain|British]] national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, and Doug Bower continued making crop circles until at least 2004.
  
Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomena, there have been many who have claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from [[Southampton]], [[England]] announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a [[Public house|pub]] near [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.<ref>(2006) UFOs Up-Close [http://ufologie.net/htm/cropbower01.htm]"Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started"] Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> The two men were able to make a {{convert|40|ft|m|0|sing=on}} circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant [[publicity]], so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural [[amphitheatre]] just outside [[Winchester|Winchester, Hampshire]] - an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more [[Complexity|complex]] patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap - the loop positioned over one eye - could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.<ref>(2006) UFOs Up-Close [http://ufologie.net/htm/cropbower01.htm]"Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started"] Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> Bower's wife had become suspicious of him, noticing high levels of [[mileage]] in their car. Eventually, fearing that his wife suspected him of [[adultery]], Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|British]] national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, and Doug Bower has made crop circles as recently as 2004.
+
Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques have become widespread knowledge since the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, ''Scientific American'' published an article by [[Matt Ridley]], who started making crop circles in northern England in 1991.<ref name="Ridley">Matt Ridley, [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=00038B16-ED5F-1D29-97CA809EC588EEDF "Crop Circle Confession,"] ''Scientific American'', July, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref> He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. He reported on "expert" sources such as the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' who had been easily fooled. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the [[Internet]]. One internet group of crop circle makers founded by [[John Lundberg]]
 
+
[http://circlemakers.org Circlemakers.org], have demonstrated that making what self-appointed [[cereology|cereologist]] experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion such cereologists have claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making the circle.<ref name=Macnish>John Macnish, ''Cropcircle Apocalypse'' (Circlevision, 1993, ISBN 095225803X).</ref>
Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques have become widespread knowledge since the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, ''Scientific American'' published an article by [[Matt Ridley]],<ref name="Ridley">{{cite journal
 
| last = Ridley
 
| first = Matt
 
| authorlink = Matt Ridley
 
| title = Crop Circle Confession
 
| journal = Scientific American
 
|month=August | year=2002
 
| url = http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=00038B16-ED5F-1D29-97CA809EC588EEDF
 
| accessdate = 2007-08-16 }}</ref> who started making crop circles in northern England in 1991. He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. He reported on "expert" sources such as the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' who had been easily fooled. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the Internet. One internet group of crop circle makers founded by [[John Lundberg]]
 
[http://circlemakers.org Circlemakers.org], have demonstrated that making what self-appointed [[wikt:cereologist|cereologist]] experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion such cereologists have claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making the circle.<ref name=Macnish>Macnish, John (1993) "Cropcircle Apocalypse," Circlevision, ISBN 09522580 3X</ref>
 
  
 
[[Image:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Crop circle in Switzerland]]
 
[[Image:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Crop circle in Switzerland]]
Line 111: Line 99:
 
* ''Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax'' by Andy Thomas and Mike Leigh, 2002, ISBN 1-58394-069-3
 
* ''Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax'' by Andy Thomas and Mike Leigh, 2002, ISBN 1-58394-069-3
 
* Sagan, Carl 1996. ''The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark''; "Aliens" pp 73ff.
 
* Sagan, Carl 1996. ''The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark''; "Aliens" pp 73ff.
* Noyes, Ralph (editor) ''The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics'' The Hollows, Wellow, Bath U.K.:1990 Gateway Books, ISBN 0-946551-66-9
+
* Noyes, Ralph (editor) ''The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics'' The Hollows, Wellow, Bath U.K.:1990 Gateway Books, ISBN 0-946551-66-9
* Werner, Anderhub, and Hans Peter Roth. ''Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries''. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979
+
* Werner, Anderhub, and Roth HansPeter. ''Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries''. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979
 
*Macnish, John. ''Cropcircle Apocalypse''. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
 
*Macnish, John. ''Cropcircle Apocalypse''. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
 
*Howarth, Leslie G. ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles''. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932
 
*Howarth, Leslie G. ''If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles''. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932

Revision as of 02:57, 21 January 2009


Crop circle
Unusual ground marking
CropCircleSwirl.jpg
A crop circle consisting of multiple circles
Details
Unusual ground marking:Crop circle
Definition:A Geometric or abstract pattern formed by the flattening of crops
Signature:1) Crops broken at the base and matted in a distinct pattern
2) Crops bent at node points and matted in a distinct pattern.[1][2][3][4][5]
Misc
Coined by:The term was invented by researcher Colin Andrews in the early 1980s and entered the Oxford Dictionary in 1997.
Related TermCerealogy: The Study of Crop circles
See Also:Unusual ground marking

Crop circles is a term used for a phenomenon where crops, such as wheat, barley, rapeseed (also called "canola"), rye, corn, linseed and soy are flattened or bent low on their stalks, producing circular and other patterns when viewed from the air. Crop circles were first reported during the later decades of the twentieth century in a few crop fields, but since have become a worldwide phenomenon.

Various hypotheses have been offered to explain their formation, ranging from the naturalistic, and hoaxes, to the paranormal. Most commonly, crop circles are connected to UFOs and beliefs in Extraterrestrial life, as many claim they are communications from aliens.

History

While crop circles did not become a widespread phenomenon garnering worldwide interest until the late twentieth century, there are some who claim that crop circles have been happening for centuries, particularly in Europe. Some claim that the earliest account of a crop circle is found in a seventeenth century English woodcut called the Mowing-Devil. The image depicts the Devil with a scythe mowing (cutting) a circular design in a field of oats. The pamphlet containing the image states that the farmer, disgusted at the wage his mower was demanding for his work, insisted that he would rather have "the devil himself" perform the task.[6]

1678 pamphlet on the Mowing-Devil.

Others point to an 1880 report of crop circles that described the investigations by amateur scientist John Rand Capron:

The storms about this part of Surrey have been lately local and violent, and the effects produced in some instances curious. Visiting a neighbour's farm on Wednesday evening (21st), we found a field of standing wheat considerably knocked about, not as an entirety, but in patches forming, as viewed from a distance, circular spots....I could not trace locally any circumstances accounting for the peculiar forms of the patches in the field, nor indicating whether it was wind or rain, or both combined, which had caused them, beyond the general evidence everywhere of heavy rainfall. They were suggestive to me of some cyclonic wind action.[7]

In 1966, one of the most famous accounts of UFO traces happened in the small town of Tully, Queensland, Australia. A sugar cane farmer said he witnessed a saucer-shaped craft rise 30 or 40 feet (12 m) up from a swamp and then fly away, and when he went to investigate the location where he thought the saucer had landed, he found the reeds intricately weaved in a clockwise fashion on top of the water. The woven reeds could hold the weight of 10 men.[8] The incident gained a lot of attention first in Australia, and then later in the world, albeit short lived. It is also possibly the reason that many of the subsequent crop circles were linked to the UFO activity.[8]

Crop circles started to appear throughout the English countryside in the 1970s, and became even more frequent in the 1980s. At first the designs were uncomplicated circles, or variants of circles, but as the frequency of the phenomena increased throughout the 1980s, so did their complexity. In Great Britain, a reported 400 new crop circles were discovered in 1990, considered a peak year for the incidents. Designs discovered at Barbary Castle were some of the largest and most geometrically complex figures seen to date.[9] The frequency and complexity of the crop circles, as well as the mystery surrounding their creation, helped to gain the attention by the media. Not long afterwards, crop circles began to show up in other countries, such as the former Soviet Union and Japan, as well as the U.S. and Canada.

Widespread media coverage of crop circles, coupled with the revealing of some very complex and famous circles being the products of hoaxes dulled the widespread intrigue of crop circles worldwide although there are many committed investigators and researchers devoted to the study of the phenomena. Like many aspects of the occult and paranormal, crop circles soon quickly became incorporated and in a fashion exploited by pop culture. An example of this is the occasional profit made from circle incidents. Although some farmers expressed concern at the damage caused to their crops, local response to the appearance of crop circles can often be enthusiastic, with locals taking advantage of the tourist potential of circles. Past responses have included bus or helicopter tours of circle sites, walking tours, t-shirts and book sales. Potential markets include curious tourists, scientists, and crop circle researchers, and individuals seeking a spiritual experience by praying to and communing with spirits.[10] In 1996, a circle appeared near Stonehenge, and the farmer set up a booth and charged a fee. He collected £30,000 in four weeks. The value of the crop had it been harvested was probably about £150.[10]

Designs

File:MadinsonvilleCropCircle.jpg
Wheat pattern about 150 feet (46 m) in diameter with crop laid down in counterclockwise circles discovered on May 14, 2007, by Monroe County, Tennessee Sheriff's Department Patrol Captain Bryan Graves while flying. First aerial photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Early examples of crop circles were usually simple circular patterns of various sizes. After some years, more complex geometric patterns emerged. In general, the early formations (1970–2000) seemed to be based on the principles of sacred geometry. Later formations, those occurring after 2000, appear to be based on other principles, natural sciences and mathematics designs, including fractals. Many crop circles now have fine intricate detail, regular symmetry, and careful composition. Elements of three-dimensionality became more frequent, culminating in spectacular images of cube-shaped structures.

Explanations

Hoaxes/Man Made

File:Crop circles Swirl.jpg
A crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion composed of Circles.

Since nearly the beginning of the crop circle phenomenon, there have been many who have claimed that the designs were hoaxes. One of the most famous examples happened in 1991, when two men from Southampton, England announced that they had conceived the idea of crop circles as a prank at a pub near Winchester, Hampshire during an evening in 1976. Inspired by the 1966 Tully Saucer Nests, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley made their crop circles using planks, rope, hats, and wire as their only tools: using a four-foot-long plank attached to a rope, they easily created circles eight feet in diameter.[11] The two men were able to make a 40-foot (12 m) circle in 15 minutes. The pair became frustrated when their work did not receive significant publicity, so in 1981 they created a circle in Matterley Bowl, a natural amphitheatre just outside Winchester, Hampshire - an area surrounded by roads from which a clear view of the field is available to drivers passing by. Their designs were at first simple circles. When newspapers claimed that the circles could easily be explained by natural phenomena, Bower and Chorley made more complex patterns. A simple wire with a loop, hanging down from a cap - the loop positioned over one eye - could be used to focus on a landmark to aid in the creation of straight lines. Later designs of crop circles became increasingly complicated.[11] Bower's wife had become suspicious of him, noticing high levels of mileage in their car. Eventually, fearing that his wife suspected him of adultery, Bower confessed to her and subsequently he and Chorley informed a British national newspaper. Chorley died in 1996, and Doug Bower continued making crop circles until at least 2004.

Crop Circle hoaxes and techniques have become widespread knowledge since the end of the twentieth century. In 2002, Scientific American published an article by Matt Ridley, who started making crop circles in northern England in 1991.[12] He wrote about how easy it is to develop techniques using simple tools that can easily fool later observers. He reported on "expert" sources such as the Wall Street Journal who had been easily fooled. Methods to create a crop circle are now well-documented on the Internet. One internet group of crop circle makers founded by John Lundberg Circlemakers.org, have demonstrated that making what self-appointed cereologist experts state are "unfakeable" crop circles is possible. On more than one occasion such cereologists have claimed that a crop circle was genuine when the people making the circle had previously been filmed making the circle.[13]

A Crop circle in Switzerland

Not everybody accepts that circles are man-made, believing instead that many designs are too perfect and that they lack signs of human interaction. Among these critics was British born astronomer Gerald Hawkins who, prior to his death, argued that some circles displayed a level of complexity and accuracy that would be difficult to recreate on paper, let alone in a field after dark.[14] In response, circle creating groups and proponents of the man-made hypothesis state that it is possible to create a complex design by marking radii and angles with rope, and to enter and to move about a field using landscape features and tractor trails in order to avoid leaving other marks.[15]

Critics have cited what they refer to as the 'shyness factor'. This alludes to the fact that no crop circle makers have been caught in the act. This assertion is not true however, and there are cases of circle makers being apprehended, including one high-profile case in 1998 when a circle was made for the media and the makers interrupted when seen in the act. In most cases, it appears that the creation of crop circles is a nocturnal activity. Usually nothing is reported, and during one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded to see a crop circle in the field 500 yards (500 m) away from the one they had been watching the next morning.[16]

Paranormal

Since appearing in the media in the 1970s, crop circles have become the subject of various paranormal and fringe beliefs, the most popular being that they represent messages from extraterrestrials.[17]UFOs and other lights in the sky have been reported in connection with many crop circle sites, leading to them becoming associated with UFOs and aliens. Some people claim to have seen images of UFOs forming crop circles or overflying them, though photographs have been dismissed by skeptics as being indistinct or clear hoaxes.[18] Most often, circumstantial evidence is used as justification for the UFO theory: the designs are created at night, usually without eyewitnesses because of the stealth nature of the creation; the designs at times are large, geometrical shapes and designs that may (or may not) have mathematical significance; and most importantly, crop circles are best seen from above the ground, such as in an airplane, implying that an airborne device was used to create it. Such logic, however, is often used to fill in the gaps left by little physical evidence of UFOs as the crop circle culprits.

Others see crop circles as a more spiritual matter. The location of many crop circles near ancient sites such as Stonehenge, barrows, and chalk horses has led to many New Age belief-systems incorporating crop circles; Including the beliefs that they are formed in relation to ley lines and that they give off energy that can be detected through dowsing.[4] New Age followers sometimes gather at crop circle sites in order to meditate, or because they believe that they can use the circle in order to contact spirits.[19]

The main criticism of non-human creation of crop circles is that evidence of these origins, besides eyewitness testimonies, is scant. Crop circles are usually easily explicable as the result of human pranksters. There have also been cases in which researchers declared crop circles to be "the real thing," only to be confronted soon after with the people who created the circle and documented the fraud (see above).[20]

Naturally Occurring

A third possibility for crop circles occasionally set forth is that they are caused by naturally occurring, albeit unusual, meteorological phenomena. According to material published by the BLT institute, anomalies found at some circle sites in England and the US are consistent with them having been created when localized columns of ionized air (dubbed plasma vortices/vortexes) form over standing crops.[21] Minuscule spheres of magnetic iron have also been found, distributed either around the perimeter of the circle, or linearly, which suggests a very complex delivery system. Bent or extended nodes in the stems of cereal grasses too have been found, suggesting that the crop has been subjected to a very rapid electromagnetic burst, causing the moisture inside the stems to expand, stretching or bending the nodes to almost three times their length. Holes have been found in the nodes, suggesting a rapid microwave burst, causing the moisture to turn into steam, which then forces its way out and leaving expulsion cavities.[22]

Other hypotheses attribute them to atmospheric phenomena such as freak tornadoes or ball lightning.[23] Of course, these theories do not explain the intricate, percise and geometrical design of many crop circles.

Analysis

The main criticism of non-human creation of crop circles is that evidence of these origins, besides eyewitness testimonies, is scant. Crop circles are usually easily explicable as the result of human pranksters. There have also been cases in which researchers declared crop circles to be "the real thing," only to be confronted soon after with the people who created the circle and documented the fraud (see above).[24] Many others have demonstrated how complex crop circles are created.[25][26][27]

In his 1997 book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark Carl Sagan discussed alien-based theories of crop circle formation. Sagan concluded that no empirical evidence existed to link UFOs with crop circles. Specifically, that there were no credible cases of UFOs being observed creating a circle, yet there were many cases when it was known that human agents, such as Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, were responsible.[25] Circle creators Doug Bower and Dave Chorley concur.

In 1999 researcher Colin Andrews received funding from Laurence Rockefeller to conduct a two year investigation into crop circle hoaxing. Andrews put together a team which studied crop circles that had been commissioned by various media outlets and infiltrated several groups known to be creating man-made circles. Using these man-made circles as a base, Andrews went on to study data from circles found in England in 1999 and 2000. Andrews concluded that 80% of all circles studied showed "unassailable" signs of having been man-made: Including post holes used to demarcate circle layouts or evidence of human tracks underlying the circle sites, but could not account for the remaining 20%, for which he was unable to find signs of human interaction.[28] Andrews's figures have been disputed by CSICOP, who argue that Andrews's criteria for distinguishing between man-made circles and non man-made circles were insufficient as no official standard exists for determining the nature of a crop circle.[29]

In 2002, Freddy Silva published Secrets in the Fields (2002).[30] He paraphrases Gerald Hawkins' summary "If crop circles are made by hoaxers, then they should stop doing it, because they are breaking the law and damaging the food supply. If they are made by UFO aliens, they shouldn't give us back the dates of our trips to Mars and the names of the men from the Titanic era - famous, clever, but now forgotten. If some are transcendental, the power behind it should realize that our culture is not now willing to accept transcendental happenings. But if they are indeed transcendental, then society will have to make a big adjustment in the years ahead."(p299)

Critics have cited what they refer to as the 'shyness factor'. This alludes to the fact that no crop circle makers have been caught in the act. This assertion is not true however, and there are cases of circle makers being apprehended, including one high-profile case in 1998 when a circle was made for the media and the makers interrupted when seen in the act. In most cases, it appears that the creation of crop circles is a nocturnal activity. Usually nothing is reported, and during one attempt to observe the creation of a crop circle, numerous individuals witnessed nothing out of the ordinary, yet were astounded to see a crop circle in the field 500 yards (457.2 m) away from the one they had been watching the next morning.[23]

Regardless of how many crop circles have been proved hoaxes, their continuing appearance and certain of the phenomena that accompany them prevent a final conclusion on their nature. In fact, whatever their nature, the appearance of these circles and the excitement they generated among both the general public and scientists is a phenomenon in itself:

Some would argue that crop circles are the greatest mystery of our age. Others dismiss them as the work of pranksters and hoaxers. Some claim that they are a source of enlightenment whilst others are disappointed at the politics they have created. However you view the crop circles, there is no denying that they have had a profound effect on mankind in these latter years of the 20th Century. The crop circles can be viewed as a complete microcosm of human passion and vulnerability. Almost a condensed version of the human race itself, with egos, anger, peace and varying views all expressed by followers.[31]

Notes

  1. Leslie Kean, "Origin of Crop Circles Baffles Scientists," The Providence Journal, Rhode Island, (2002-09-16)
  2. W. C. Levengood, "Anatomical anomalies in crop formation plants," Physiologia Plantarum, Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society 92 (1994):356-363
  3. Anderhub Werner and Hans Peter Roth, Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries (Lark Books, 2002, ISBN 1579902979).
  4. 4.0 4.1 Leslie G. Howarth, If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles (iUniverse, 2000, ISBN 0595156932). Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "howarth1" defined multiple times with different content
  5. Lynne Kelly, The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal (Allen & Unwin, 2004, ISBN 1741140595).
  6. Andy Thomas, "The 'Mowing Devil' Investigated," Swirled News, 2001. Retrieved January 4, 2008
  7. John Rand Capron, "A case of genuine crop circles dating from July 1880," Journal of Meteorology 25 (2000): 20-21. ISSN 0307-5966 (original Nature 22 (July 1880): 290-291).
  8. 8.0 8.1 "The Tully Saucer Nest" UFO Casebook, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009
  9. David Ritchie, UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena (MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Hillary Mayell, "Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?" National Geographic, August 2, 2002. Retrieved January 5, 2009
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Doug Bower Interview: How It All Started" UFOs Up-Close, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2008
  12. Matt Ridley, "Crop Circle Confession," Scientific American, July, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  13. John Macnish, Cropcircle Apocalypse (Circlevision, 1993, ISBN 095225803X).
  14. (2008) Cropcirclesecrets.org "Gerald Hawkins work on crop circles and their relationship to Euclidean geometry and and diatonic ratios" Retrieved January 6, 2009
  15. Nickel, Joe. Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, " Skeptical Inquirer magazine" September/October, 2002. [1] Retrieved January 10, 2009
  16. Nickel, Joe. Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, " Skeptical Inquirer magazine" September/October, 2002. [2] Retrieved January 10, 2009
  17. Carroll, Robert (2005) "Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles," Wiley, ISBN 0471272426
  18. Nickel, Joe. Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, " Skeptical Inquirer magazine" September/October, 2002. [3] Retrieved January 10, 2009
  19. Mayell, Hillary. Crop Circles: Artworks or Alien Signs?, "National Geographic News". August 2, 2002. [4] Retrieved January 10, 2009
  20. Nickel, Joe. Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, " Skeptical Inquirer magazine" September/October, 2002. [5] Retrieved January 10, 2009
  21. Haselhoff, Eltjo "The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles:Scientific Research & Urban Legends", (Frog Ltd,2001. ISBN 1583940464)
  22. (2008) BLT Research Team Inc. "MAGNETIC MATERIALS IN SOILS" Retrieved January 10, 2009
  23. 23.0 23.1 Joe Nickel, Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light, Skeptical Inquirer magazine September/October, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2009
  24. Joe Nickell, "Crop-Circle Mania: An Investigative Update," Skeptical Inquirer
  25. 25.0 25.1 "The Demon Haunted World", Carl Sagan (Random House, January 1996)
  26. Faking UFOs, Roel Van der Meulen (Self Published, 1994)
  27. ¤ c i r c l e m a k e r s ¤
  28. Stephen J. Spignesi and Colin Andrews, (2003) "Crop Circles: Signs of Contact", Career Press, P154, ISBN 156414674X
  29. Crop-Circle Plant Research by Levengood; Investigative Files (Skeptical Briefs June 1996)
  30. Freddy Silva. Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles. (2002) ISBN 1-57174-322-7
  31. Paul Vigay, Crop Circles - What's it all coming to? Enigma Issue 17, Crop Circle Research, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2009.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Irving, Robert, and John Lundberg. The Field Guide: The Art, History and Philosophy of Crop Circle Making. Strange Attractor Press, 2006. ISBN 0954805429
  • Round in Circles: Physicists, Poltergeists, Pranksters, and the Secret History of the Cropwatchers, by Jim Schnabel (Penguin 1993). ISBN 0-14-017952-6.
  • Circular Evidence: Bloomsbury, London by Colin Andrews and Pat Delgado, 1989, ISBN 0-7475-0635-3.
  • The Hypnotic Power of Crop Circles, by Bert Janssen, 2004. ISBN 1-931882-34-7
  • Andrews, Colin, and Stephen Spignesi. Crop Circles: Signs of Contact. New Page Books, 2003. ISBN 156414674X
  • Haselhoff, Eltjo H. The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends. Souvenir Press Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0285636251
  • Crop Circles by Lucy Pringle, 2004, Pitkin (an imprint of Jarrold Publishing) (largely in favour of the supernatural explanation of Crop Circles), ISBN 1-84165-138-9.
  • Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles by Freddy Silva, 2002, ISBN 1-57174-322-7
  • Vital Signs: A Complete Guide to the Crop Circle Mystery and Why It is Not a Hoax by Andy Thomas and Mike Leigh, 2002, ISBN 1-58394-069-3
  • Sagan, Carl 1996. The Demon-Haunted world: Science as a Candle in the Dark; "Aliens" pp 73ff.
  • Noyes, Ralph (editor) The Crop Circle Enigma: Grounding the Phenomenon in Science, Culture and Metaphysics The Hollows, Wellow, Bath U.K.:1990 Gateway Books, ISBN 0-946551-66-9
  • Werner, Anderhub, and Roth HansPeter. Crop Circles: Exploring the Designs & Mysteries. Lark Books, 2002. ISBN 1579902979
  • Macnish, John. Cropcircle Apocalypse. Circlevision, 1993. ISBN 095225803X
  • Howarth, Leslie G. If in Doubt, Blame the Aliens!: A new scientific analysis of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circles. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN 0595156932
  • Kelly, Lynne. The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal. Allen & Unwin, 2004. ISBN 1741140595
  • Ritchie, David. UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena. MJF Books, 1994. ISBN 1567312004
  • Carroll, Robert. Skeptics Dictionary: Crop Circles. Wiley, 2005. ISBN 0471272426

External links

Skeptical and scientific analysis
Circle creators
Pro paranormal explanation websites

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.